IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 920 

Calling for revisions to the existing rules of engagement under Operation 

Resolute Support in Afghanistan. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 

Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Calling for revisions to the existing rules of engagement 

under Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan. 

Whereas, according to some press accounts, Taliban forces 

now maintain a significant presence controlling 28 percent of districts across Afghanistan, more than at any 

point since 2001; 

Whereas Taliban personnel are determined to take control of 

Helmand and secure its stake in heroin trade, an important source of income for the fundamentalist Islamic 

movement; 

Whereas continued talks between Afghan Government officials and Taliban leaders have ceased, with the death of 


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•HRES 920 IH 

Mullah Akhtar Mansour, Taliban moderates refuse to 

compromise for any peace; 

Whereas Taliban forces continue to harbor and assist known 

terrorist groups such as the Haqqani Network with weapons and territorial passage and are directly responsible 

for the deaths of United States and allied troops; 

Whereas the former United States commander in Afghanistan, General John Campbell, argued before he retired 

that the Taliban must be forced into a decision between 

fighting and talking, stating ‘‘they have to have more 

pressure put on them and one way to do that is to potentially strike them.’’; 

Whereas in May 2016, General David Petraeus stated in the 

Wall Street Journal, ‘‘[T]he rules of engagement mean 

that the indigenous Afghan and Pakistani Taliban generally get a pass. Yet it was the Taliban that allowed al 

Qaeda the sanctuary in Afghanistan in which the 9/11 attacks were planned, and which presumably would make 

the Taliban a legitimate target under the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force.’’; 

Whereas General Campbell testified before Congress, stating 

‘‘If the Taliban are attacking coalition forces, then I have 

everything I need to do that, to attack the Taliban just 

because they’re Taliban, I do not have that authority.’’; 

Whereas the 2001 authorization of the use of military force 

(Public Law 107–40) consistently has been cited by the 

Bush and Obama Administrations as providing legal authority for the use of force against the Afghan Taliban; 

and 

Whereas United States operations against the Taliban have 

been undermined with strict rules of engagement which 


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•HRES 920 IH 

are confusing, contradictory, inconsistent, and politically 

driven: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) urges the President to revise the existing 

3 rules of engagement in Afghanistan and provide 

4 commanders the ability to target Taliban outside of 

5 instances where they pose a direct threat to the 

6 United States or its allies; 

7 (2) condemns in the strongest terms the ter8 rorist activity in the Afghanistan region, especially 

9 the actions Taliban forces have assisted and partici10 pated in against Afghan forces, United States 

11 Armed Forces and NATO Forces; 

12 (3) remains concerned regarding the flow of 

13 foreign fighters to and from Afghanistan; and 

14 (4) urges the President to empower the com15 mander of Operation Resolute Support with the au16 thority to train, advise, and assist the Afghan Na17 tional Defense Security Forces at the tactical level 

18 as missions require. 

Æ 


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